No. 9 Lehigh returns home for two duals
1/13/2010 2:45:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns home for the first time in two months as the Mountain Hawks will host West Virginia in the annual Sheridan Dual Friday night before welcoming Navy on Saturday in Lehigh’s EIWA dual opener. The Mountain Hawks moved back into the top-10 at No. 9 after reaching the finals of the Virginia Duals last weekend. Senior David Craig led Lehigh with four wins in four bouts last week, while the trio of sophomore Sean Bilodeau, freshman Robert Hamlin and sophomore Joe Kennedy combined to go 9-3 with three pins and five bonus wins. West Virginia visits Bethlehem for the first time in 89 years, while Lehigh and Navy will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their first dual meeting in this, the 90th all-time meeting between the EIWA rivals.
The Mountain Hawks went 3-1 last weekend at the Virginia Duals to place second in the event for the second straight year. The highlight for Lehigh was a come-from-behind 18-16 win over No. 10 Oklahoma in the semifinals. Lehigh spotted the Sooners a 16-0 lead after 149 before winning the final six bouts, all by decision, beating four ranked wrestlers along the way. Bilodeau started the run, while Mike Galante, Hamlin, Craig and Kennedy added wins, before Zach Rey completed the comeback with a 3-2 win over Nathan Fernandez at heavyweight. Craig led all Lehigh wrestlers, going 4-0 on the weekend, while Bilodeau went 3-1 with two pins. Kennedy also had a strong weekend going 3-1 with a pin, a major decision, and a 4-1 win over then-fourth ranked Eric Lapotsky of Oklahoma, Kennedy’s second win over a top-10 wrestler in as many weeks. A total of nine Lehigh wrestlers are ranked in the top-20 nationally by either InterMat, W.I.N. Magazine or Amateur Wrestling News.
West Virginia comes to Bethlehem looking for its first dual win of the season Friday night. The Mountaineers fell to 0-5 in duals this season with a 24-9 loss to Michigan State Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. West Virginia received wins from Shane Young at 125, Donnie Jones at 165 and Kyle Rooney at 197. The Mountaineers’ lone ranked wrestler is sophomore Colin Johnston, who comes in at No. 19 at 133. Jones is not ranked by InterMat but has appeared in the top-20 in other polls. At 141, All-American Brandon Rader recently returned to the lineup after missing most of the last two seasons with injuries. West Virginia competed at the Las Vegas Invitational and the Reno Tournament of Champions and will host the EWL Tournament on March 7. Craig Turnbull is in his 32nd year as head coach of the Mountaineers.
Navy concludes a weekend trip through eastern Pennsylvania with Saturday’s dual against the Mountain Hawks. The Midshipmen spent most of the first half of the season on the tournament circuit before opening their dual season with an 18-17 win over American last Friday. The Mids will visit East Stroudsburg Friday before visiting Lehigh on Saturday. Navy won the Navy classic, which it hosted in November, and also competed at the Las Vegas Invitational, Reno Tournament of Champions and most recently the Southern Scuffle. Navy boasts a pair of ranked wrestlers in Bryce Saddoris, the defending EIWA Champion at 149 who has moved up to 157 and is ranked eighth, and heavyweight Scott Steele, who is back in the lineup after missing last season with an injury and is also ranked eighth. Bruce Burnett is in his tenth season as Navy’s head coach.
This weekend, Lehigh celebrates the 100th anniversary of its first meeting with Navy with the 90th meeting between the two EIWA rivals. Navy is Lehigh’s second most often wrestled opponent after Penn State. Lehigh and Navy are wrestling in a dual meet for the 59th consecutive year, the second longest active streak for Lehigh (Penn State – 77). The Mountain Hawks have won 12 of the last 13 duals against the Midshipmen. Lehigh is facing West Virginia for just the third time ever. Last year’s meeting in Morgantown was the first between the schools in 88 years.
Action begins Friday night when West Virginia visits Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall to take on the Mountain Hawks at 7 p.m. Saturday’s Lehigh-Navy dual gets underway at 3 p.m. from Grace Hall. Tickets to both duals are still available, and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting the Lehigh ticket office, located in Grace Hall.
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Date: |
January 15, 2010 |
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Opponent: |
West Virginia Mountaineers |
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First match: |
7:05 p.m. |
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Arena: |
Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (2,130) |
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Location: |
Bethlehem, Pa. |
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Lehigh’s record: |
9-3 overall, 0-0 EIWA |
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West Virginia’s record: |
0-5 overall, 0-0 EWL |
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Series: |
Lehigh leads 2-0 |
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Streak: |
Lehigh has won the only two meetings, in 1921 and 2009 |
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Television: |
Service Electric 2 Sports Live with Doug Heater and Kyle Berger |
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Radio: |
ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 6:45 p.m. |
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Internet broadcast: |
Live video at Lehighsports.com |
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Behind enemy lines: |
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Date: |
January 16, 2010 |
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Opponent: |
Navy Midshipmen |
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First match: |
3:05 p.m. |
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Arena: |
Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (2,130) |
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Location: |
Bethlehem, Pa. |
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Lehigh’s record: |
9-3 overall, 0-0 EIWA |
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Navy’s record: |
1-0 overall, 1-0 EIWA |
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Series: |
Navy leads 46-43 |
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Streak: |
Lehigh has won the last two duals |
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Television: |
None |
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Radio: |
WLVR-FM (91.3) with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 2:45 |
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Internet broadcast: |
Live video at Lehighsports.com |
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Behind enemy lines: |
Lehigh - West Virginia/Navy Preview
